Former Chief Justice David Maraga speaks during the declaration of his 2027 presidential bid on the United Green Movement Party ticket, at the party headquarters, Nairobi, on October 2, 2025.
The judge who stunned Kenya, baffled Africa, and captured global attention by overturning a presidential election has formally declared interest in the top office and unveiled his preferred political party.
Retired Chief Justice David Maraga-turned-politician will now fly the United Green Movement (UGM) party flag ahead of the 2027 general election.
Mr Maraga, who says President William Ruto’s leadership style is the best example of how not to govern, said his ambition to become president has been strengthened following his admission to UGM.
To him, the party's values and ideology align with his ambition to rule with constitutionalism rather than forcing issues on Kenyans.
Speaking on Thursday as he accepted the party's mandate, Mr Maraga assured Kenyans that he is determined to fix the broken systems.
“Since I declared my intention to run for presidency, most Kenyans have been asking which is my party and I have been telling them that I’m looking for one. It has not been an easy job as some people might think to get a party that is aligned to the ideologies that describe the values that you do,” Mr Maraga said.
United Green Movement co-party leader Neto Agostinho (left) presents the party flag to former Chief Justice David Maraga during the launch of his 2027 presidential bid at the party’s head office in Nairobi.
2017 election ruling
The retired justice attracted the wrath of President Uhuru Kenyatta when, in 2017, the Supreme Court he headed overturned Mr Kenyatta’s victory on the grounds that the electoral body had not complied with the law in conducting the elections.
The president retorted, 'We shall revisit', and he did just that when he slashed the budgetary allocation to the Judiciary after winning a repeat presidential election later that year. His main opponent, Raila Odinga, had boycotted the election.
"Maraga and his people — those rogues have discredited our victory. Maraga must be told that he is now dealing with a president who is properly in office”, Mr Kenyatta told his supporters in a long rant.
When he was unveiled, Mr Maraga said that the constitution of UGM aligned with his aspirations to be the next president of Kenya. These aspirations include upholding constitutionalism and the rule of law, as well as respecting people’s rights and freedoms.
As president, he would prioritise public participation in all sectors to promote transparency, he said.
“If elected as the President of his country, I have committed to reset, restore and rebuild Kenya. I have committed to restoring utu and the dignity of the Kenyan people, a spirit not only prominent in the Green Movement party constitution but also a life among the few members and delegates of the party that I have integrated with.”
Mr Maraga lauded the party founders, including former Ndhiwa MP Agostinho Neto, for giving him the platform to use to change the politics of the country.
“The founding members’ forum in their capacity as the electoral college have preselected me for later nomination by the National Delegates Convention as the presidential flag bearer of the United Green Movement party for the general election 2027.”
Former Chief Justice David Maraga(center) receives a party membership certificate from United Green Party Movement Co-party leader Neto Agostinho(2nd left), during the declaration of Maraga's 2027 presidential bid on the United Green Movement Party ticket, at the party headquarters, Nairobi, on October 2, 2025.
Acknowledging that the road ahead is not for the faint-hearted, he urged his supporters and party members to stay grounded and keep their spirits up.
“I will do all in my power to strengthen the party and make it one of the strongest parties in this country. A party that will not only win the presidential election in 2027 but will also have a majority of seats in the national Parliament and in various county assemblies.”
Strategies
He said that with the upcoming November by-elections and subsequent plans to strengthen the party, he would hit the ground running without hesitation, going forward, holding meetings with delegates.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga(right) with the United Green Party Movement Co-party leader Neto Agostinho(left), during the declaration of Maraga's 2027 presidential bid.
Mr Maraga announced that in the coming weekend, he would be meeting delegates in Homa Bay and Kisumu counties to strategize how to win the Ugunja constituency by-election.:
“We will roll out an itinerary in other counties before we formally unveil the United Green Movement Party as my party in a public event in Nairobi County, possibly before the end of this month.”
At the same time, the former CJ criticised the education system and health system that have been undergoing unclear transformation under President Ruto’s regime, saying that Kenyans will be best served under his leadership come 2027.
“I’m sure that this will convince you, fellow Kenyans, to join the United Green Movement party in your numbers and help us to build the ukatiba movement in Kenya since we have agreed that ukatiba ndio tiba.”
He also maintained that he will work to meet the aspirations of the young people in the country by fixing the broken systems and respecting humanity.
We will take care of all human rights that are enshrined in the Constitution. We will take care of the obligations that are in the constitution to provide, among other things, healthcare, education and to protect people’s property.”
Accordingly, the former CJ said that Kenya is sliding into a failed State following the recent police brutality on peaceful protesting Kenyans.
“I have never known any country where discipline forces work hand in hand with goons.”
In the spirit of teamwork and building alliances, the former CJ said that the party is open to working with other parties who share the same aspirations.
He also stated that he is not a project of anyone as it has been alleged by Kenyans, and that he is not going to listen to the naysayers who have asked him to drop his presidential bid.
According to Mr Maraga, a section of leaders opposed to his plans for vying for presidency in 2027 have been approaching and even using threats to have him collaborate in the coming by-elections.
“I am not a coward; let those who are threatening me and asking me to join their bandwagon know I am going for the top seat to push for obedience of the law and constitution.”
Rule of law
Mr Maraga rose to fame when he nullified the presidential results in 2017, putting the re-election of former President Uhuru Kenyatta on hold.
The historical ruling in the country and first in the African region cited that the August 2017 election was not carried out in accordance with the constitution.
Even after calling for a repeat election in 60 days, Mr Maraga maintained that the constitution had been violated in the transmission of the results, something that he believes was the right thing to do.
The ruling created enmity between him and the retired president who had declared that he would revisit the matter later on.
As a result of his decision to nullify the results, the former president declined to appoint and promote six judges to the Court of Appeal and the Environment and Lands Court in 2021.
Although Mr Kenyatta did not explain why he rejected the promotion of the six judges, the public and the judiciary viewed this as a punishment for Mr Maraga's leadership in delaying his victory.
In 2020, Mr Maraga wrote an open letter to the president, asking him to dissolve both the Senate and the National Assembly for failing to pass the two-thirds gender rule. As expected, the president ignored his advice.
At one point, Mr Maraga publicly decried how the executive was almost rendering the judiciary dysfunctional by slashing its budget and ignoring court orders.
